I used to connect to public WiFi without thinking twice. Airports, hotels, cafés, anywhere with a signal. It felt normal. Convenient. Harmless.

Then I learned what is actually happening on those networks.

And I stopped immediately.

The moment that changed how I use the internet

I was in an airport during a long layover. My mobile data was slow, so I joined the airport WiFi to check emails and transfer money between accounts. Nothing unusual. People around me were doing the same thing.

Later, while reading about travel cybersecurity, I found out something uncomfortable. Public WiFi networks like that are one of the easiest places for attackers to intercept data. Not because you did something wrong. Just because you connected.

That stuck with me. I had logged into financial accounts on a network shared with hundreds of strangers.

What most people do not realize about public WiFi

When you connect to free WiFi at a hotel, airport, or coffee shop, you are on a shared network. That means:

• Other people on the same network can potentially monitor traffic • Fake hotspots can be set up with names that look legitimate • Unencrypted data can be intercepted • Your real IP address and location are exposed

You might think, "But the website has a lock icon." That helps, but it does not make you invisible. Your traffic can still reveal patterns, the sites you visit, and in some cases sensitive data if the connection is not properly secured.

For cybercriminals, public WiFi is not a convenience. It is an opportunity.

The bigger risk most people ignore

It is not just about hackers in hoodies. It is about exposure.

Your internet provider on that network can see your activity. Your IP address reveals your approximate location. If you travel often, work remotely, or access banking apps on the go, your digital footprint becomes easier to track and exploit.

Most people only think about online security after a problem. A compromised account. A strange login alert. Fraud on a card.

By then, it is damage control.

What I changed after that

After learning all this, I decided I would not use public WiFi the same way again. I looked for something that would:

• Encrypt my internet connection • Hide my real IP address • Protect my data on shared networks • Work easily on my phone and laptop

That is when I started using NordVPN.

What actually changed when I started using it

The difference was not technical. It was practical.

Now, before I join hotel or airport WiFi, I turn it on. My connection is encrypted, which means even if someone is monitoring the network, what they see is scrambled. My real location and IP address are hidden, which adds another layer of privacy.

When I log into banking apps while traveling, I do not have the same uneasy feeling anymore. When I work from cafés, I know my traffic is not just floating around an open network.

It became a habit. Like locking a door.

I had doubts at first

I assumed a VPN would be complicated. It was not. Setup took minutes.

I thought it would slow my internet a lot. For everyday use like browsing and streaming, I barely notice a difference.

I also thought, "I am not important enough to be targeted." That is the wrong mindset. Most attacks are not personal. They are automated and opportunistic. Public WiFi just makes you an easier target.

Who actually needs this

If you:

• Travel and use airport or hotel WiFi • Work remotely from public places • Access banking or financial apps outside your home network • Care about your online privacy

Then protecting your connection is not overkill. It is basic digital hygiene.

NordVPN is simply the tool I use to do that. It runs quietly in the background and does the one thing public WiFi does not do well on its own, which is keep your connection private.

If you want to check it out, this is the one I use: https://nordvpn.sjv.io/AWOZO1

The part most people regret later

Nothing looks dangerous when you first connect to free WiFi. That is the problem. The risk is invisible.

Most people only change their behavior after something goes wrong. A hacked account. Stolen information. A security scare.

Using protection before that happens is boring. Quiet. Preventive.

But so is wearing a seatbelt.